Combination  running-board footpad and luggage carrier



Patented ug. 7, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.;

NEAL NIELSIN, O13' SPENCER, IOWA.

COMBINATION nonnina-nonni; roorran Ann LUGGAGE CARRIER.

Application ined Novemberas, 192e. sex-iai N0. 151,435.

The purpose o'l.z my invention is to provide a combination running board loot pad and luggage carrier olf-simple, durable and inexpensive construction.

More particularly, it is my object to provide such a device having substantially no greater bulk when collapsed than any ordinary running board foot pad, and adapted when in such form to perform the `functions andihave the appearance of such a foot pad. The device, however, is so connected with the running board and is so constructed that it may be swung from horizontal or prone position to upright position and may be duly expanded for serving as a luggage carrier. With these and other objects in view, my invention. consists in the construction, arrangement andcombination of the various parts of my combination running board foot pad and luggage carrier, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set `forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of an automobile equipped with a combination running board toot pad and luggage carrier ernbodying my invention, theV device being shown in the position for use as a luggage carrier.

Figure 2 is a plan view of therunning board equipped with two of my devices, one beingin position for use as a foot pad and the other in position for use -as a luggage carrier.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the `device shown niountedon the foot board illustrated `in section and viewed Ltroin Athe automobile body.

Figure f1 is a perspective view ot the device shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a horizontal` sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 4..

Figure 6 is a vertical, sectional view `tal/:en

on the line G-G of Figure l and illustrating the relationship o1 my device to the running board. j

Figure 7 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of Figure 6 for illustrating the construction olithe hingeforming a part oit my device; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a hook. In the accompanying.` drawings,` I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally an automobile which has the ordi nary running board 11 with the fenders 12 and 12l at its ends.

It is well known that it is now a common practice to use toot pads on ruiming boards, and that it is also a common practice to Ause luggage carriers mounted on running boards. Seine toot pads interfere with the installa tion oif'lsome luggage carriers;

VIt is obvious that there are a goed many advantages to be attained by conibining a jloot pad andluggagecarrier. The dealer can carry one item instead of two. The user may use a luggage carrier as a foot pad, when he desires, and thus will always ind the luggage carrier in place on the car when he needs it.

Myluggage carrier has a pair of strap hinges indicated generally at A. The hinge strap members 13 are fastened to the upper surface o the running board 11 by means ot' bolts 141, screws or any suitable llasteni`n, 1g means. The hinge joints are adjacent the outer edge ol the ruiming board. The hinge strap members 13 are hinged to the coacting strap members 15 by means of pintles 16. The strap members are provided with journaling portions 17 to receive the pintles 15.

Parts of these journaling portions 1'? are cut away so as to provide on each hinge strap portion 13, an upwardly `projecting shoulder 18 and on the hinge strap portion 1o, a shoulder 1) arranged so as to coact and engage with each other when the strappor# tions 15 are raised to vertical position as shown 'in F igures` 11 and 7 for limiting the upward, outward swii'iging movement of the strap portions 15 and the combination foot pad and luggage carrier supported on them.

My improved device has a foot pad 20 in the form of a plate preferably of metal, having on what is its under surface, the peripheral ianges 21 along its side edges.

The upper surface oit' the plate 20 is preferably corrugated 'for instance as indicated at 21 for appearance sake and for providing a proper roughened suri'ace such as is desirable in the toot pad. The pad plate 20 is preferably longer than it is wide. j

The langesil are provided with suitable notches22 to receive thehinge strap mem- GLI is `collapsed the left hand hook 4l() may be extended over the pin i7` for locking the memberI C in collapsed position.

It will be notedthat the parts are so constructed and arranged that it two oi` my devices are arranged end to endas shown for instance in Figures l, 2, 3 and Ll, the appropriate hook member l() of one ol" the devices may be extended over the pin 38 oiE the adjacent device for thus locking the extensible members B and C of the two adjacent combination devices together.

The parts are preferably arranged so that the extensible members slide with substantial friction and will thus maintain any extended position to which they may be drawn.

I have thus provided a combination running board foot pad and luggage carrier which when in its collapsed position comprises a foot pad of goed appearance which does not appear to be a luggage carrier.

Without the necessity for using any tools or special parts, the foot pad can be swung trom its lowered position as illustrated at the lett hand end of Figure 2 to its last position as illustrated at the left hand end oit Figure 2 and the extensible members'B and C may be slid outwardly to form lug gage carrier parts.

The `flanges 3l and 34 coact with the cross members :27 to prevent the vcomplete withdrawal of the extensible members from the plate 20.

For a short running board, one oi the devices may be used while for a longer running board two may be employed and they may be fastened together in the manner already explained and as illustrated in Figure 3. Y

My device is of comparatively simple and inexpensive construction. It can be made complete at a reasonable price. When the foot pad has been installed on thecar, the user does not need to pay any further atten-` tion for the necessity of providing a luggage carrier. t

The movable portions o'l the luggage carrier are when not in use, protected from the weather, dirt and accidental injury `by being received in and underneath the plate 20.

l claim as my invention: y

l. In a combination running board toot pad and luggage carrier, a foot pad plate having an annular flange, an extensible luggage carrier member having bars slidably mounted in said flange and an end portion adapted in one position of said member to rest adjacent to the end oit said plate, and means for hinging said plate to a running board, whereby when the device rests on the ruiming board for use as a footpad, the member except such end thereof is received under the plate and between it and the running board, and when the plate is raised to vertical position, said member can be slidably extended to form with the plate a luggage carrier. y

2. ricombination running board stoot pad and luggage carrier comprising a running boardioctpad plate, means for `hinging the plate to a 'loot board to move from horizontal position lying on the foot board to vertical position along the outer edge oi` the foot board and an extensible luggage carrier member slidably mounted on said plate and adapted to l'orm the end of the plate and have its larger portion received between the plate and the running board when the plate is lying on the ioot board and to be extended substantially in alignment with the plate when the plate is raised.

A combination running board foot pad and luggage carrier comprising a running board oot pad plate, means for hinging the plate to a loot board to move from horizontal position lying on the foot board to vertical positionalong the outer edge of the toot board and an extensible luggage carrier member slidably mounted on said plate and adapted to form the end of the plate and have its larger portion received between the plate and the running board when the plate is lying on the foot board and to be extended substantially in alignment with the plate when the plate is raised, said hinged means serving as a guider and retaining member tor the extensible member.

Ll. A combination foot pad and luggage carrier, comprising a running board foot pad plate, `means for hinging the plate to a l'oot board to move from horizontal position lying on the foot board to vertical position on the outer side of the loot board and a pair olf extensible luggage carrier members slidably mounted on said plate and adapted when in collapsed position tobe superposed with relation to each other and the plate and when the plate is lowered to lie between it and the running board and to be slidably extended lengthwise in opposite directions from the pad when the pad is raised.

5. A combination foot pad and luggage carrier, comprising a running board foot pad plate, means for hinging the plate to a foot board to move trom horizontal position lying on the iioot board to 'vertical position on the outer side of the foot board and a pair oi extensible luggage carrier members slidably mounted on said plate and adapted when in collapsed position to be superposed with relation to each other and the plate and. when the plate is lowered to lie between it and the running board means tor locking` the extensible members in collapsed position, said carrier members being adapted, when the pad is raised, to be slid longitudinally in opposite directions to form extensions of the pad.

6. A combination running board foot pad and luggage carrier comprising a running board foot pad plate, means for hinging the plate to a foot board to move from horizout-a1 position lying on the foot board to vertical .position yalong the outer edge of the 5 footboardand an extensible luggage cariier memberfslidably mounted onsaid plate and'havinglits lm'gerl portion received between the plate and the running board when the plate is lying on the foot board und adapted to be extended substantially in 10 alignment with the plate when the plate is raised.

Des Moines, Iowa, November l5, 1926. NEAL NIELSEN.

R. C. PAULY Two-HAND CONTROL Aug. 7, 192s.

Filed Feb. 12, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l A TTU/CNE Y' 

